Experimental Investigations of Centrifuge Separation Performance in Applications to Diesel Engine Lube Oil System

This paper reports separation performance of pressure driven centrifuges used in diesel engine lubrication systems. Centrifuge rotor speed was determined as a function of oil pressure and viscosity. Separation efficiency was studied in the laboratory as a function of rotor speed, oil viscosity, time of operation and the type of contaminants. Laboratory tests were carried on using two types of contaminants, silica with particle density of 2.53 g/cm³, and a mixture of 80% iron oxide and 20% carbon black with a density of 1.95 g/cm³. The gravimetric method and a Coulter particle counter were used to determine efficiency and sizes of particles penetrating the test centrifuges. A 0.8 micron membrane filter was used as an absolute filter in the gravimetric method. A mathematical model was employed to calculate the cut diameter for two types of pressure driven centrifuges.